Ponzol Stainless Steel M2 Tenor Mouthpiece

Today, I have another Peter Ponzol M2 Stainless Steel tenor mouthpiece for review. I did a review of one of these a year or two ago but the sample clip I played of it was done in my garage. Since then, i have had a few people ask if I can do another one that is recorded in the same way as all my other clips. Here it is…………..

The problem with the other review clip is that it was done in a big garage with a lot of natural reverb in the sound from the big garage. The other clips on my website are recorded in a small dry studio. It’s hard to compare mouthpiece clips when they are recorded in different environments so I am doing another take of the Ponzol M2 SS . This one is done in my same studio as all the other mouthpiece clips. I’m using the same microphone and am the same distance from the mic as all the other clips so you can compare how it sounds to the other clips. Let me know what you think. Steve

Steve Neff has been playing and teaching saxophone and jazz improvisation around the New England area for the last 30 years. He is the author of many effective jazz improvisation methods as well as founding the popular jazz video lesson site Neffmusic.com.

Comments

Steve, did you find the tonal quality and playability between the three stainless M2’s you trialed(the pass-around and the first one you bought) and this one to be the same or were there noticable differences? In other words, if you bought an M2stainless, would it be just about the same as another M2 stainless or do you need to trial more than one to get a ‘winner”.

My vote is for the M2 Stainless. Very full sounding. My Main piece is a M2 110s in brass. I also have a M2 Plus 110 brass that I rarely use. The new 110 M2 in stainless is on the wish list for sure. Jim

Thanks for the “sonic spa.” You sound great on this ponzol. I really enjoyed listening to you! I would love to try to stainless m2 plus for a session this week. :)WD
Will Donato
Innervision Recordshttp://www.willdonato.com

I love the way this mouthpiece fits in the mix with both my relatively loud worship team at church as well as any blues/rock gigs I do.When th volume goes down, it has just the right amount of buzz and subtone to make me really enjoy the sound it produces. With a softer, thicker sounding reed, it is quite lush sounding for jazz style standards .Sometimes it sounds too bright when I’m practicing alone at home, but in the” real world” of playing with other instruments, often loud groups, it cuts through in a very good way, and that brightness gets tamed to a degree where it can beome a pretty singing tone. I bought this one used from you ,Steve, so I rated the value at a 5. Compared to the price of other somewhat brighter sounding but considerably more expensive pieces I have tried, it is still a great value new.

Steve what recommendations do you make for this mouthpiece in genre
R&B or Jazz ?Could this mouthpiece work in both styles.How does this mouthpiece compare to the Warburton LA model?How does this compare to the Warburton 12 degree model tenor metal mouthpieces ??

As I said in another post, I don’t remember much of the 12 degree. I’d have to go back and look at the pictures and listen to the clip to remember what it sounded like which you can do yourself. The M2 is a great medium of the road piece. I did play that one on a number of gigs and it sounded great in both styles. I prefer it’s sound to the Guardalas or Dukoffs that I have found thin and strident at times. The SS M2 is loud full and thick sounding. On jazz it is a brighter than an average Otto Link type sound but it’s not overly bright at all. You just have to lay back a little bit. I did meet an older gentleman in a music store that had the most amazing jazz tone on tenor. Lush and beautiful. I asked him what he was playing on and it was a Gold M2. I was amazed and asked how he got such a dark lush sound from it. He didn’t even know it was considered a bright loud mouthpiece. He said he just tried it and got a beautiful dark tone out of it and has been playing it ever since. I will say that he was playing at about 1/3 of the volume that I play at and that was his normal laid-back volume so that would have something to do with it also.

Compared to the LA……………I consider the LA and the Ponzol M2 to be pretty close in brightness. The LA is more free blowing and has a fatter wider sound to it. The M2 is fat compared to a Guardala but not as fat as the LA. That being said………..many time when a mouthpiece has a huge fat sound you lose some of the focus in the sound. I think the M2 has more direct focus. It’s a like you play and the sound shoots out of the sax and it’s a listener in the head. A tighter more direct sound. the LA shoots out and isn’t as direct a hit. It more envelopes the listener in the big round sound. I hope that makes sense. I think the 12 degree was more direct and focused like a Guardala or Dukoff. Very focused and tight sound. I like a little bit of fatness to the sound like the M2 or LA though.

Thanks so much for the great site Steve. I just ordered a used one from Woodwind and Brass after hearing you on it. I know mouthpieces don’t necessarily sound the same between players (and I’m nowhere near your level) but when you played a Berg similar to mine and sounded very close to my sound (which I’m unsatisfied with), and this sounded exactly like what I was going for, I had to take a chance!

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James

Steve, just a note to say thanks.

I’ve been playing a long time, but your material, laid out in such a thoughtful way, helps me to understand concepts in a new and deeper way.

You are a true gift to the jazz community.

60 lessons and going strong,

Kevin Ledbetter

Kevin Ledbetter

By the way, BIG COMPLIMENTS to you, Steve!
Not only are you a great player, you are also a great teacher!
I, too, am a woodwinds player/teacher. I have new inspiration to play and teach because of you.
The concepts and “thinking” is similar to what I already learned in College,
but hearing you explain and PLAY the concepts REALLY MAKES THE DIFFERENCE!
Also, your written patterns are more interesting than other books I have seen!
Keep up the good work.
I will be recommending your …

I will be recommending your site to others!

I am enjoying your style of teaching, and you’ve done a great job with the videos….good sound quality and
well constructed lessons. Balances the more guitaristic material found on the majority of guitar based programs. Jazz vocab is what I’m all about at this point in the journey. I especially dig the fact that you’ve studied with Bergonzi…helps me see his voluminous output in a more bite sized way.

Milton

I just started looking at my lessons and I have to say, dude you are awesome. I ABSOLUTELY will learn from you! I started the tenor about 1 ½ yrs ago and have since picked up an alto, and more recently a soprano. I spend most of the time on the tenor, followed by soprano, and have only gotten to the alto a few times. I think I’ll be sticking with tenor. I’m having a great time and hope one day to play well enough to get regular gigs. I’ve been playing keys for about 35 years (…

Wil

Hi Steve,
I live in a gorgeous but rural area of Oregon-no music store within 80 miles. Your lessons are my lifeline! Truly the best there are anywhere online. Love your playing. Love your teaching. Thanks again.
Ed